AFC Totton’s Southern League match abandoned after players left in the dark following power outage at Gosport Borough

AFC Totton was in complete control against Gosport Borough on Friday night, but a power outage caused the match to be abandoned.

AFC Totton led the match by two goals – it could have been many more – but a widespread power outage around the AEI Stadium area left the crowd of over 1,700 supporters sitting in the dark.

The match had reached the second minute of stoppage time in the first half when the floodlights, streetlights and houses lost power.

The players left the pitch, and the officials gave a 20-minute window for all of the lights to be restored, but ultimately, they had to abandon the game.

It had started so well, with Charlie Austin nodding home from Tom Blair’s bouncing right-wing cross just four minutes into the Southern League Premier Division South encounter.

AFC Totton continued to dominate, with the likes of Joe Oastler, Luke Hallett, Declan Rose, Adam Tomasso and Roddy Collins winning their battles throughout the middle of the pitch.

A swift counter-attack down the right saw Blair head down to Charlie Austin, who spotted Ethan Taylor in space to the left of the penalty spot. The winger had the time to take a touch and fire a low shot under Gosport Borough goalkeeper Adam Parkes to double the visitors’ lead before the 25-minute mark.

Then, after the officials had indicated a minimum of five minutes stoppage time, the lights went out. The referee called off the game when it became clear that the problem would not be solved any time soon.

The game has to be replayed from scratch at a later date, yet to be confirmed.